TextWatch for 2007 Elections

As the local election of 2007 comes, the Seminarians'
Network is once again challenged to participate in ensuring an
honest and peaceful electoral process. Since its beginnings in 1991,
SemNet has been actively participating in collaborating with other
groups involved in the proper monitoring of the electoral process.
In the elections of 2001, SemNet launched its Incident Reporting
project as a response to the signs of the times. This project used
the SMS and internet technology to monitor various elections related
incidents. The same project was used in the last 2004 elections.
This coming year, SemNet once again will adapt the same project as
the network's contribution in maintaining an honest and peaceful
electoral process, known as Election Txtwatch. The following
describe the mechanics of SemNet's Incident Reporting:

1. Gathering of willing non-partisan religious and lay
volunteers around the Philippines.
2. Registration of the volunteers via SMS text and internet
technology. Volunteers will receive a text message confirming their
registration and describing the process of reporting.
3. Registered volunteers can send elections related incidents
via SMS text anytime before, during and after the elections.
4. The SemNet nerve center receives and determines newsworthy
and relevant reports, edits them for posting in the designated
website (http://semnet.multiply.com) and relays them to the
respective media partners and other institutions for the necessary
actions.
5. The SemNet nerve center monitors the whole process of
registration and monitoring of text message reports before, during
and after the elections.

In our mission to foster brotherhood among seminarians through
service in the society and Church in the Philippines, the
Seminarians' Network is knocking on your generous hearts for any
assistance in making this project possible. In line with this, we
are in need of prepaid cell phone cards that the project will use in
the duration of the project. You may e-mail us the prepaid cards'
pin numbers to textwatch2007@yahoo.com. Autoload (0916 7050281) and
E-load (0928 6685292) credits are also welcome. Prepaid credits will
be used for communications and will be distributed among volunteers.
You may also volunteer by registering your mobile phone number, name
and location (during the elections) via e-mail or SMS (using the e-
mail address and/or the mobile numbers mentioned above).

We hope to receive a positive response from you. Thank you very much
for your continued support to the Seminarian's Network of the
Philippines.

In Opus Ministerii,

Rommel Felizardo
Incoming Coordinator,

Christian Emmanuel Gabinete
SemNet Election Txtwatch Project Head

SemNet Secretariat
San Jose Seminary
Ateneo de Manila University Campus
Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights
Quezon City

Tel 4266091
Fax 4265936